Alternative living arrangements: Some global practices

While adolescence is a time of independence and exploration, family relationships remain vital to young people during this time (Daniel, Wassell, & Gillligan, 2004). Care leavers who do not have families or parental supports need special provisions, opportunities, supports and guidance for better coping after leaving care organizations. This is particularly pertinent for children from traumatized background, disturbed or broken families, unstable living conditions and children with development delays or mental health issues. Studies suggest that flexible, gradual and well-planned transition for care leads to better outcome and coping after leaving care.25 This includes individual transition planning based on the young person’s needs, flexible post-care options and ongoing support until young people reach 25 years of age.26

Significant literature on different housing assistance to care leavers suggest to provide supports children until they are 25 years of age, placing them in different living options, since many care leavers may not be developmentally or emotionally ready to live independently after 18 years. This includes placing care leavers in existing after care housing, private housing with housing allowances or in supported living units. Globally there are few good practice models that provide post care supports particularly, the safe and secure housing assistance.

The St Luke’s Leaving Care and After Care Support Service in the rural Victorian town of Bendigo is a holistic community model that adopts a “corporate parenting strengths-based” approach that assumes responsibility for providing ongoing nurturing and support for young people in leaving care beyond 18 years. In conjunction with community organizations, it provides a comprehensive aftercare service that includes case management, mentoring, employment and training assistance programs, material assistance, housing assistance and supported transitional housing. A study involving 40 young people who had participated in this model showed improvements in the areas of housing, education and training, financial management and living skills. Further, following participation in the St Luke’s program, some participants reported reduced anxiety/ depression/ anger and a reduction in drug and alcohol use.

The ‘Berry Street Stand By Me Program’ was developed following a scoping study in 2011 that identified the need for ongoing provision of support and services for young people leaving care with complex needs such as mental health issues, disabilities, and those engaging in high risk behaviours. The ‘Stand by Me Program’ focuses on early intervention and continuity of care via intensive case management. Program support workers establish strengths-based relationships with young people aged 16+ identified to be most at risk of “homelessness and other negative outcomes” and provide continuity of support following exit from OOHC. Evaluation found that the ‘Stand by Me’ Program provided some positive benefits to participants although this study involved only a small number of participants. Some of the positive outcomes associated with participation in the program included:

program workers developed a greater ability to build trust with young people, which subsequently allowed them to offer more timely support that resulted in positive outcomes for the young people. young people’s participation in transition planning increased.

25 Mendes et al., 2011b 26 Supporting young people leaving out of home care; https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/sites/default/files/publication-documents/leaving-care.pdf